2019 Science-based Refinement Awards

2019 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Attention veterinarians, animal care technicians, researchers, and those who care for the well-being of animals used in science: The Johns Hopkins Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT) is now accepting proposals for the 2019 Science-Based Refinement Awards.

These awards focus on research projects to enhance the housing, handling, and/or experimental procedures for laboratory animals or that can reduce animal use by (for example) identifying areas of research and testing where animal models lack reproducibility and translational value. Hence, the small grants are intended for those who work hands-on with animals, such as animal welfare scientists, veterinarians, and animal care technicians, as well as for researchers who conduct systematic reviews, meta-analyses, or citation analyses of animal studies.

For 2019, we will offer two awards of $5,000 each. There are no Facilities and Administrative Costs allowed on these awards.

Studies with animals must be non-invasive, with the possible exception of obtaining blood for biochemical measurements (and, in this case, animals should be trained to cooperate during venipuncture). Preference will be given to studies that have broad applicability.

The proposal should include a detailed description of the planned study and its anticipated outcomes. It should provide sufficient detail so reviewers can understand what is being proposed and how the data will be evaluated and used. If procedures involve animals, information must be given in detail, similar to what is submitted to an Animal Care and Use Committee. The proposal should not exceed eight pages, including any supplemental information (with the exception of the CV). A breakdown of the proposed budget should be included.

​Review Criteria:

Impact on animal welfare

Innovation of proposal

Likelihood of obtaining publishable data within the proposed timeframe

Scope of applicability

Contribution to knowledge about animal behavior/welfare

Quality of study design

Each application using animals must be approved by the applicant's Animal Care and Use Committee (or similar authority if submitted from outside of the US), and the proposal itself must be co-signed by the Head of Animal Services at the Institution. Applications should be submitted electronically to the Coordinator of the Refinement Program, Kathrin Herrmann, at kherrma1@jhu.edu.

The deadline for receipt of submissions is December 31st, 2018.

Applications will be reviewed by an international group of reviewers. CAAT then will make the final decisions on the proposals to be funded. Successful applicants will be funded by April 1, 2019. Acceptance of this award implies that funds for this specific research are not currently available from other sources.

Each successful applicant must send a final report to Kathrin Herrmann (kherrma1@jhu.edu) within three months after completion of the study. These reports will be posted on the CAAT website. It is anticipated that successful applicants also will submit a manuscript of their project and its outcome to a professional journal.

Proposal Format Guidelines:

Title of proposed study

Name and position of applicant/s, including CV

Institution name

Contact information

Proposal details (see above)

Approval(s) and signature(s) Animal Care and Use Committee (or similar authority)

For information about previous CAAT-funded refinement studies, please visit the main awards page.